Moderate consumption of chocolate can lower blood pressure (Harvard Medical School study published in Neurology)

Reports keep coming about the role natural supplements, and diet and lifestyle changes play in improving health and lowering the cost of medical care. For a free nutritional consultation and/or AgePrint quiz, and for all of your supplement needs, call THN today—and don’t forget to ask about the 50% discount on the new edition of the PATH Wellness Manual: 888.THN.PATH (888.846.7284)

Associations Between Cerebral Small-Vessel Disease and Alzheimer Disease Pathology as Measured by Cerebrospinal Fluid BiomarkersAfter examining the associations of MRI white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, microbleeds with CSF β-amyloid 42 (Aβ42), total tau, and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P-tau181) as well as for a subset of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers and noncarriers, researchers came to the conclusion that deposition of amyloid appears aggravated in patients with cerebral small-vessel disease, especially in apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers, providing evidence for pathophysiological synergy between these 3 biological factors. – JAMA, July 2014Research on Psychiatric Disorders Targets InflammationPsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders are being thought of more and more as systemic illnesses in which inflammation is involved; immune-inflammatory mechanisms can go awry andcontribute to the development of depression, schizophrenia, and autism, insights that are leading to novel experimental approaches for these disorders. – JAMA, July 2014Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy—Marker of Disease Progression for Multiple SclerosisThe mI:NAA ratio (myo-inositol:N-acetylaspartate) in normal-appearing white matter has consistent predictive power on brain atrophy and neurological disability evolution in multiple sclerosis, and the combined presence of astrogliosis and axonal damage in white matter has cardinal importance in disease severity. – JAMA, July 2014Association of Lifetime Intellectual Enrichment with Cognitive Decline in the Older PopulationIntellectual lifestyle enrichment throughout life is increasingly viewed as a protective strategy against the impending dementia epidemic in the older population. Higher levels of mid/late-life cognitive activity were also associated with higher levels of cognition, but the slope of this association slightly increased over time. – JAMA, July 2014Olfactory Test Makes Progress in Identifying in Preclinical Alzheimer’sAn inexpensive test measuring olfactory memory was highly correlated with progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease as well as neurodegeneration and beta-amyloid deposition in the brain in two separate studies. – Clinical Neurology News, July 2014Nocturnal Cortisol Levels Predicted Neurocognitive Impairment in Sleep ApneaNocturnal cortisol levels explained up to 16% of changes in learning, memory, and working memory in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, a study showed. – Clinical Neurology News, July 2014ADHD Drug Works by Stimulating Brain’s Motivation-Reward SystemActivity in the in the caudate and anterior cingulated of the brain associated with motivation and reward correlated with clinical improvements in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults given lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, and shows that the medication increases sensitivity to reward. – Clinical Psychiatry News, July 2014Antidepressants in Pregnancy Don’t Lead to Cardiac Defects in InfantsAntidepressant use during the first trimester of pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of congenital cardiac malformations in infants, according to results of a cohort study of women in the Medicaid program. – JAMA, July 2014Radiosurgery Appears Effective for Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderGamma ventral capsulotomy benefitted patients with otherwise intractable OCD and thus appears to be an alternative to deep-brain stimulation in selected cases. – JAMA, July 2014Big Marijuana—Lessons from Big TobaccoHistory and current evidence suggest that simply legalizing marijuana, and giving free rein to the resulting industry, would once again entrust private industry with safeguarding the health of the public. Counterarguments include the possible escalation of use, adverse mental and physical health effects, and potential medical and social costs. – NEJM, July 2014Dietary ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake Reduces Risk for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)Diet-derived long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are incorporated in brain lipids and modulate oxidative and inflammatory processes and could thus affect ALS risk and progression; consumption of foods high in ω-3 PUFAs may help prevent or delay the onset of ALS. – JAMA, July 2014Creatine Reduces Markers of AgingOnce used only by athletes, creatine has been shown to improve glucose tolerance, inhibit cognitive decline, combat age-related, and extends life span in animals by the equivalent of seven years in human terms. – Life Extension, July 2014Poor Sleep Linked to Cortical Amyloid BurdenPeople who report feeling more sleepy and less rested have elevated levels of amyloid in regions of the brain that are commonly involved in Alzheimer’s disease, finds a cohort study reported at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. – Clinical Psychiatry News, June 2014Milk May Delay Knee Osteoarthritis in WomenFrequent consumption of fat-free or low- fat milk may slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis in women but not men, new research has found. – JAMA, July 2014Toward More Comprehensive Food LabelingWith obesity experts increasingly recognizing the value of healthy eating, and consumers eager to make smarter food choices, FDA is revising the Nutrition Facts label, which, combined with a streamlined, comprehensible ingredient list and trustworthy front-of-package labeling, can have a powerful impact not only on consumer behavior, but perhaps more important, on the decisions manufacturers make about the foods they create for the marketplace. – NEJM, July 2014Insufficient Sleep May Affect Fat Cells, Appetite and Satiety HormonesInsufficient sleep is tied to increased levels of a hunger hormone called ghrelin and decreased levels of the satiety hormone leptin, which could lead to overeating and weight gain; sleep deprivation also reduces fat cells’ ability to respond properly to insulin, which is crucial for regulating energy storage and use. – SEWA, July 2014Higher Vitamin D Levels May Increase Survival Rates for Breast, Lymphoma, and Colon Cancer PatientsThe strongest link between vitamin D levels and survival was detected in patients with breast, lymphoma, and colorectal cancer; there was less evidence of a link between vitamin D and survival in lung, gastric, prostate, leukemia, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma patients, but available data were positive. – Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2014Curcumin Safely Targets Depression as Effectively as AntidepressantsA high-absorption form of curcumin works against depression by promoting neurogenesis, increasing serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels, and inhibiting inflammation. – Life Extension, July 2014Green Tea—A Wide range of Health DividendsDue to 30% beneficial polyphenols (catechins), green tea has a potent neuroprotective effect, improves age-related memory problems, and provides defense against cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and some cancers like breast, prostate, lung, and melanoma. – Life Extension, August 2014

Eric R. Braverman, M.D.

Dr. Braverman is a Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brandeis University and NYU Medical School, did brain research at Harvard Medical School, and trained at an affiliate of Yale Medical School. He is acknowledged worldwide as an expert in brain-based diagnosis and treatment, and he lectures to and trains doctors in anti-aging medicine.

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